Assembly and stacking apparatus



Feb. 6, 1962 Filed Feb. 20, 1961 T. CARVEL ASSEMBLY AND STACKING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1962 T. cARvEL 3,019,744

ASSEMBLY AND STACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2o, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1962 Filed Feb. 20, 1961 T. CARVEL ASSEMBLY AND STACKING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 u i! il u 1l n il u i! @i Feb. 6, 1962 T. cARvEL 3,019,744

ASSEMBLY AND STACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 6, 1962 T. cARvEL 3,019,744

ASSEMBLY AND STACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1961 5 Sheets-Shea?l 5 3,619,744 Patented Feb. 6, 1962 i hcc 3,019,744 ASSEMBLY AND STACKING APPARATUS Thomas Carvel, Winding Farm Road, Chauncey, NSY. Filed Feb. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 90,415 15 Claims. (Cl. 167ml) This is a continuation-impart of my application, Serial No. 11,193, led February 26, 1960, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to automatic assembling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for assembling articles of manufacture in sandwich combinations.

While automatic machines for assembling articles of manufacture in stacked relationship are known, for eX- ample vending and cooking apparatus capable of assembling sandwiches, hot dogs and the like, such known apparatus are not constructed for continuous production assembling operations and moreover are generally quite complex in their structure.

lt is a principal object of the present invention to provide an automatic machine whose principles are usable in assembling various articles of manufacture into stacked relationship for example, sandwich formations or combinations and more particularly applicable to food cooking and assembling of preformed food into sandwich combinations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple mechanical arrangement by which food assembly operations take place during a cooking cycle in timed relationship therewith and by use of a simple assembly mechanism providing for continuous operation of the machine or apparatus for automatically carrying out sandwich-forming operations.

A feature of the apparatus according to the invention is the provision of an endless driven conveyor for receiving individual articles of manufacture, for example pieces of food, comprising slices of bread, or halves thereof in roll and hun forms and transporting them in spaced positions along a given path of travel while at the same time at least heating the slices of bread or roll or bun halves and preferably toasting them. The apparatus is provided with a plurality ofgroups of pivotally mounted carriers operable individually to a position for receiving and holding individual respective slices or preformed portions of food filling and respective individual slices of bread or roll halves which are assembled in sandwiched relationship with the slices or roll halves on the conveyor means. The carriers are up-ended or pivotally operated to a position for carrying out the sandwich forming operation by successive operation of the carriers within the respective groups and alternate operation between the groups to carry out the disposing of the articles of manufacture such as slices and the food filling in proper as- Sembled relationship to form the nished desired sandwich combination.

The apparatus is provided with heating elements disposed in suitable positions with respect to the conveyor means and carriers, which are transported along parallel paths of the conveyor means, to carry out at least heating of the slices and food filling and preferably the heating cycle is so controlled that the bread or bun slices or halves are toasted while the food is cooked during continuous operation of the driven endless conveyor means.

Other features and advantages of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention will be better understood as described in the following specication and appended claims, in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FiG. l is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention and is illustrative of the manner in which the apparatus is housed and hooded; Y

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FiG. 3 is a diagrammatic elevation view of an electrically heated unit or apparatus according to the invcntion;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a variable speed drive of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 and is illustrative of the manner in which electrical heating elements are disposed with respect to the conveyor means and carriers according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of shield and radiation reflector arrangement for the heating elements usable on the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 and is illustrative of the manner in which the reflectors are conligured and positioned relative one another to carry out a reflection and shielding function according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail fragmentary side view illustrating adjustable connections of removable heating or cooking elements shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view illustrating height adjustment connection means for the removable lower heating elements for the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic elevation view of another embodiment of the invention and is illustrative of a gas heated apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9 and is illustrative of the position of the gas heating or burner elements;

FIG. l() is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating removable gas burners shown in FlG. 9;

FEGS. lla-11g are fragmentary elevation views illustrating the operation of carriers or grills according to the invention and the manner in which they are operationally sequenced to carry out an assembly or stacking function according to the invention;

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary elevation view of a pivotal mount for an individual carrier of the apparatus according to theV invention;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged elevation view of a cam arrangement for pivotally operating carriers in timed relationship as illustrated in FIGS. lla-11g;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a pan-type carrier according to the invention;

FIG. l5 is a plan view of another type of carrier or grill according to the invention;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of another embodiment of carriers or grills according to the invention.

Apparatus according to the invention is usable to position articles of manufacture in a stacked relationship or sandwich combination. The apparatus is applicable to machines where at least three articles of manufacture are to be stacked in a sandwich combination. Preferably the apparatus is usable as food assembly apparatus.

While the apparatus according to the invention will be shown and described as applicable to automatic roll or bun toasting and cooking of hamburger filling and assembly thereof in sandwiched relationship it will be understood that the principles of the invention are applicable to assembly of slices of bread, in whatever form for example halves of rolls and buns with a food filling, for example, sandwich meat which must rst be cooked. Moreover, sandwich making can be carried out by apparatus according to the invention without cooking or heating or toasting ofthe bread and filling.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated according to the drawings as applicable to automatic cooking of hamburger patties and the toasting of rolls and assembly thereof into sandwiched relationship. Referring to the drawings and more particularly FIGS. 1-4 an apparatus i according to the invention comprises an endless conveyor 2 having an upper run 2a driven along a aoieaa predetermined substantially horizontal path. The conveyor is provided with a tirst group of carriers 3 fixed thereon for traveling a parallel path with the conveyor and a second group of carriers 4 disposed substantially opposite the carriers or grills 3 and iixed in a similar manner to travel substantially parallel to the path traveled by the conveyor 2 and at the same speed as the conveyor. The carriers are operable in a manner hereafter described to carry out an inverting and stacking operation of articles of manu-facture and in the example illustrated are constructed in the form of pivotally mounted grills.

The conveyor 2 is driven by a variable speed drive operable as hereafter described. The drive comprises an electric motor 6 mounted on a pivoted mount 7 for actuating a split pulley 9 over which a belt itl passes for driving a pulley 11. This pulley is provided with a sprocket 11a which drives a chain 13 cooperative with a sprocket 14 which drives a shaft 16 at variable speeds in a counterclockwise direction. The shaft 16 has thereon a pair of axially spaced drive sprockets 17 for rotatably variably driving the `conveyor 2 and the carriers or grills thereon in a counterclockwise direction.

vrThe conveyor 2 is guided over a pair of guide sprockets 19 rotatably mounted and axially spaced on a rotatable shaft 21. The shaft 21 is mounted in the frame of the machine, not shown, and the sprockets are dimensioned and positioned to cause the conveyor 2 and the carriers 4 to travel through a bath 23 for a purpose hereinafter described. A second pair of guide sprockets 24 mounted on a rotatable shaft 2S are so positioned relative to the drive sprockets 17 that the path of travel of the upper run 2a of the conveyor is along a substantially horizontal path.

The speed of the conveyor 2 can be varied at will by rotating a crank 2,5 lined on a threaded shaft 27 which passes through the threaded stationary nut or collar 28. The crank shaft is connected to the pivotally mounted motor mount 7, which permits variation of the split-pulley belt drive 9, which drives the shaft 16, through the belt 1), the pulley 11 and chain 13. When the crank is rotated in a direction for swinging the mount 7 away from the position shown in FIG. 3A the speed is increased and when rotated in an opposite direction toward the position illustrated speed is decreased. Split-pulley drives are well known, and the split pulley is, therefore, not illustrated in detail.

In operation the apparatus is loaded, FIGS. 3 and llallg, by loading, in the vicinity of the sprockets 24E, articles of manufacture,k for example halves 32 of slit rolls on -the upper run 2a of the driven conveyor with the sliced surfaces disposed upwardly. The slit roll halves 32 are disposed in spaced positions between oppositely disposed carriers and are transported along the horizontal pathl of travel of the conveyor mnl 2a. The carriers 3 are each loaded with respective portions of food filling, for example, hamburger patties 33 to be assembled in sand- Wiched relationship with respective ones of other slices of bread or roll halves 34 each loaded on respective carriers 4, with the sliced surface disposed upwardly. The roll halves and meat portions or patties 33 are loaded in a loading zone at an input end of the conveyor adjacent the rotary shaft 25.

A plurality of electrical heating or cooking elements 35 are disposed, FIGS. 3-7, in position over the path traveled by' the meat or filling holding grills or carriers 3. A second plurality of meat cooking and heating elements 36 are disposed underneath the path traveled by the food carriers 3 to cook the hamburger patties in the individual meat carriers. The roll halves 32, 34 have only the upper sides thereof heated and preferably toasted by respective pairs of heating elements 38, 39 which are disposed in position overlying the path traveled by the upper run Za and carriers 4 respectively. It is to be understood that the length of the heating elements and the heat applied therefrom must =be suicie-nt to allow cooking and toasting for the maximum speed at which the conveyor 2 travels.

The entire mechanism heretofore described is enclosed in a housing 41 made of sheet metal panels in the manner show-n in FdG. l. The enclosure or housing 41 is provided with a pair of doors 43, 44 providing access to the bath 23. A hood 45 is removably mounted `on the housing 41 over the heating elements 35, 38, 39 to lead away cooking fumes and odors.

The roll halves or slices of bread 32, 34 are assembled in sandwiched relationship with the fillings or patties 33 disposed therebetween after the respective roll halves and filling which are to be assembled are clear of the heating elements and externally of the hood 45 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and lla to llg. The carriers 3 and 4 are pivotally mounted, FlG. l2, on respective upstanding, bifurcated mount members 50 lixed to the conveyor Z and in which is mounted a pivot pin 51 held in axial position by a cotter pin 52. The individual carriers 3, 4 are provided with a radial extension 535 pivotally mounted on the mounts 5d by the pivot pins Si. The radially extending extensions or arms 5S are each constructed so that their free end rests on the bifurcated portion of the mounts 5d, as illustrated in FIG. l2, when the carriers are being transported on the horizontal run of the conveyor so that the carriers or grills travel disposed in a horizontal position during horizontal travel of the conveyor. The carriers lare preferably made of a light metal, for example aluminum, and accordingly a brass bearing 56? is provided for allowing easy pivot movement of the individual carriers 3, 4.

in order to carry out assembly of the sandwich relationship between the slices 32, 34 and filling 33 the app-aratus is provided with a second pair of drive sprockets 57 lixed axially spaced on a shaft 58 driven in a counterclockwise direction from the shaft 16 fby means of a mechanism or drive, not shown, covered by a guard 60. A pair of cams comprising collars 68, 69 are xed relative to the shaft 57 for angular rotation therewith. The cams each comprise a formed wire 58:1, 69a for pivotally operating or tipping the carriers 3 and d respectively as hereafter explained.

Each carrier is provided with a downwardly depending extension or inger 3a, 4a which is engaged by a relatively flat camming surface 68h, 69b of the respective operating or tipping cams in the manner shown in FIGS. lla and 1lb which initiate the rotation of the respective carriers and in a direction toward the conveyor 2 for carrying out the assembly of the slices and food or meat filling in a sandwich combination. yThe angular rotation of the individual carriers is continued and completed by the respective arcuate portions 6de, @c of the wire cams 63a, 69a which are configured to move the carriers past a vertical position. in order to carry out the 11p-ending or tipping operation for assembling the components of the sandwich combination in proper sequence the wires 63a, 69a are inserted in their respective collars 68, 69 angularly spaced in the manner shown iin` FIG. 13 through an angle 72 so chosen as to permit sequential and alternate operation of the carriers 3, d of the respective groups. A carrier 3 is iirst rotated to an inverted position to dispose the meat patty it is transporting onto a roll half 32 after the patty is cooked and the upper side of the roll half 32 is toasted. The carrier 3 is restored to a horizontal position as hereafter explained. Next a carrier 4 oppositely disposed to the carrier 3 is inverted to dispose the roll half 34' it is Y transporting overlying the patty just deposited.

ln order to preclude the carriers from simply Hopping over each carrier is provided with an angle wire operating member 75 or 76 aiso operable to restore its respective carrier to its original horizontal position. The members 75, '76 are fixed to the pins 51 and have a portion 75a, 76a engageable by the respective extensions 55 of the carriers as shown in FGS. llc and lle thus rotating the memfbers '75, '76 so that they engage the underside of the cam wires 68a, 69a and controllably lower the respective carriers to the inverted positions. The wires '75, 76 respectively are engaged by the underside of the arcuate cam ras i3 portions 68e, 69C. The cam portions are arcuate and spaced radially relative to their respective collars and are bent inwardly toward the conveyor to rotate the operating members 75 and 76 counter-clockwise and clockwise respectively thereby to rotate the carriers in a respective direction to restore them back to their original horizontal position shown in FIG. lla. It is readily apparent the restoration of the patty-carrying carriers is begun while the upending or" the opposite carriers is beginning as shown in FIG. lld, whereby the assembly of the sandwich combination is quickly completed. The assembled sandwich combination or formation is then either taken manually from the conveyor or otherwise delivered to a chute, not shown, disposed to receive the sandwich combination when the conveyor reaches the end of its horizontal travel and the sandwich combination is delivered to a consumer or otherwise wrapped for delivery. T he tipping cams operate the carriers 3 successively and alternately with their oppositely disposed carriers 4 which are likewise successively operated.

in the electric embodiment of the invention the food carriers 3, 4 depend downwardly freely from their pins El in a vertical position from the conveyor during traveling of the conveyor on the lower runs thereof in the manner shown in FIG. 3. rThe carriers are returned to a level or horizontal position for receiving food or meat lling and bread or roll slices by a pair of arcuately formed restoration rods S8, of which one only is shown, disposed at the end of the lower run of the conveyor, for restoring the carriers d. The other rod, not shown, is disposed opposite to the rod shown to restore the carriers 3 to a horizontal or level position. These rods engage the downwardly depending ingers 35:, da of the respective group or row of carriers and are formed to cam the fingers rotationally in opposite directions thereby causing the carriers to rotate into their ready position `for receiving liing or roll halves thereon in a level position as shown in FIG. 3.

The electrically heated apparatus according to the invention has the heating elements 35 positionable adjustably in a vertical direction variably by vertical adjustment of support members 9i) on which the individual elements 35 are suspended. The support members 90 are variably adjusted in height by threaded hangers 91 mounted on the frame 92. In order to permit adjustable movement of the electrical connections to lthe heating elements 35 both ends of the elements are provided with free lit couplings 94 electrically connected to, buses or conductors, not shown, housed in end housings 95 through which electrical current is applied from a power source, for example a 220 volt source, not shown. In a similar manner the lower cooking elements 36 are mounted on mounts or support members 96 variably adjusted in height by threaded members 97 mounted on the frame members 98 of the machine. The upward and downward movement of the lower cooking coils is permitted by free fit couplings lill electrically connected to the conductors, not shown, enclosed in end housing 102. It is readily apparent the manner of suspending the heating or cooking elements on threaded hangers and the use of threaded free iit couplings allows easy removal of the elements from the machine for cleaning or repair. The ease of adjustment permits heat adjustment as well as cleaning space without removal of the elements. The other elements 3d, 39 are similarly removably and adjustably suspended in the apparatus.

p In order to accelerate the cooking and heating effect of the electrical heating elements and to improve the eiiiciency of the apparatus it is provided with a system of reiiectors for cooking by reflected radiant energy. The redector system comprises a series of panels 103 removably mounted on framing members 105, 166 xed to the electrical conductor cover shield or housings 95. It being understood that the reflectors are disposed in position to receive the radiant energy from the heating elements and reilect it toward the carriers. The reflector system is disposed above the heating elements 35 and 36 respectively and above the long spans of the heating elements 33, 39 to direct the heat downwardly onto the carriers.

A second embodiment of the present invention illustrated as a gas fired apparatus is shown in FIGS. 8 to l0. In this unit a conveyor 116 is driven at variable speeds by pairs of drive sprockets H8, 119 from a motor and variable speed drive, not shown, in a similar manner to the electric unit heretofore described. The conveyor has an upper run 1l6a guided over the pair of sprockets 11%; and a pair of end guide sprockets 120. A pair of guide sprockets 22 disposed at the apex of a triangle formed by the guide sprockets causes the conveyor H6 to pass through a bath 123 along with two rows or groups of aligned carriers 126, 127 thereon. The carriers are pivotally mounted on the conveyor and travel along separate, substantial parallel paths with the conveyor in the manner described with respect to the electric unit.

The carriers 126, 127 are pivotally operated or tipped within each group successively and alternately within the groups as heretofore described by wire cams i3d, 131 driven and constructed similarly to the cam wires 68a, @a of the electric unit. in this embodiment the carriers or grills are constructed to pivotally operate for carrying an assembly function of bread slices or roll halves and a food or meat filling, however, the carriers do not depend downwardly on the lower runs of the conveyor H6 in the manner of the carriers on the electric unit. A pair of guides 133 keep the respective rows of carriers from depending vertically downwardly on the lower runs of the conveyor in the manner of the carriers illustrated inV PEG. 8. In this embodiment the carriers travel in the same position relative to the conveyor during travel on the upper and lower runs.

It has been found that in gas operated units of the invention if burners are placed on opposite sides of the meat carriers 1.26 the gas burners tend to operate ineliciently. This is believed to be due to the fact that one of the burners will consume most of the oxygen supply and the other one, therefore, will operate ineiciently so that the cooking on both sides of the food or meat hlling is not uniform during the cooking cycle as the carriers move along with the convey'or 116. Preferably a lower burner arrangement 136 is arranged so that the carriers ll26 pass over these lower burners and an upper burner arrangement 133 is spaced from the burner "36 in what may be considered a downstream position so that the opposite side of the fool iilling on the carriers .526 is cooked. Thus both sides are cooked during the cycle of the machine. A burner arrangement 139 is provided for at least heating and preferably toasting the slices disposed on the upper runner span ll6a of the conveyor 116 and a burner arrangement 140 is disposed over the path of the food carriers 127 for heating or otherwise toasting the other half of the bread or bun carried by the food carriers 127.

The individual burner arrangements are constructed as a plurality of burners 142 connected to a manifold 143 through which a eXible gas supply connection 144 is made. The burners are provided with a plurality of apertures 145. The manifold 43 is adjustably, removably mounted on a frame member 146 of the machine by angular threaded brackets 14S, 149 so that the burners can be readily removed for cleaning of the apparatus and their position relative to the path of the grills can be adjusted.

The gas burners are supplied alternately with natural or synthetic gas depending upon which is available. It is readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the type ot gas employed is simply a matter of orice size for control of gas delivery to the supply connection or hose 144. Natural gas simply requires a larger oritice.

:notarse G Moreover, the burners are provided with reliector elements, not shown.

The gas unit lid is preferably provided, as heretofore mentioned, with variable speed changing means, not shown, in a manner described with respect to the electric unit. It is to be understood that in both embodiments of the invention the assembly of the slices and filling is always maintained in synchronism with the speed of the conveyor since the actuating or iiipping cams in both embodiments are driven in synchronism with the conveyor and the food carriers when transported at the variable speeds are driven at the speed of the conveyors since in both embodiments they are mounted directly on the conveyors.

The speed of the conveyors is variably changed in dependence upon the food iilling to be cooked and whether it is fresh or frozen so that the apparatus is quite versatile. Moreover, the heat delivered by the electric elements or gas burners can be varied for example by rheostatic control means on the electric elements, not shown, and by valve adjustments, not shown, in the gas burner supplies thereby providing for adjustment of the cooking cycle in conjunction with the position of the elements or burners relative to the grills as they move along their paths and the transport speed of the slices and filling. The machine can, therefore, operate at a considerable variable range of speeds and in which the various mechanisms and time intervals of the cycle are always kept in synchronism by virtue of the construction of the apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of the carriers has been shown and described wherein the carriers 3, 4 are provided with a lip 3b, 4b for holding the meat patties and roll e halves as slices therein during the up-ending and inverting of the carriers or grills. The carriers or grills can be constructed in different ways illustrated in FIGS. 14-l6. Thus, the carriers may comprise a grill on which is disposed a removable pan 16d made of a heat conductive material', for example aluminum. Alternatively the carriers or grills are constructed to releasably hold a slice of food for example bread or a roll. For this purpose a carrier or grill 1163 is provided with an opstanding prong 64 welded to a grid forming the base of the carrier while an oppositely disposed cooking grill or carrier 1.55 is provided with a pair of prongs lod, 167. The carriers may be constructed in the manner shown in FlG. 16 wherein a carrier 163 is provided with fixed upstanding prongs 169 while an oppositely disposed food carrier 171i is simply constructed as a plain circular grill.

It is readily apparent that the transport mechanism and pivotally operable carriers operable by tipping cams according to the invention are usable in apparatus usable to stack articles in a sandwich formation. The cooking elements are only necessary when the invention is applied to apparatus for cooking and assembling sandwich combinations in which the preformed food filling is to be cooked, for example, in automatically making hamburgers that make use of preformed patties. Moreover, the baths 23, 123 are filled with a bath suitable for the use to which the apparatus is being applied. In the examples of the invention shown and described as applied to an automatic hamburger cooking and toasting machine the baths comprise a fluid for suitably cleaning the carriers or grills.

`While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that many modiiications and changes can be made Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an assembly apparatus, in combination, driven conveyor means for receiving individual articles of manufacture and in operation transporting them in respective spaced positions along a given path of travel, a iirst group of pivotally mounted carriers operable individually to a first position for receiving and holding individual, re-

spective articles of manufacture and pivotally operable individually to a second position for disposing the second mentioned articles individually overlying respective ones of the inst-mentioned articles, a second group of pivotally mounted carriers individually operable to a first position for receiving and holding respective individual articles of manufacture and pi'votally operable to a second position for disposing the respective articles of manufacture thereon overlying respective ones of said second-mentioned articles to form a sandwich combination, means cooperative with said conveyor means to move the first and second group of carriers along separate paths substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means and in synchronisrn therewith, and means spaced from a zone in which said carriers and conveyor means receive said articles of manufacture and spaced therefrom in the direction of travel of said conveyor means operable automatically cyclically in timed relationship with the speed of said conveyor means to automatically angularly rotate and pivotally operate the carriers of said first group successively to said second position and including means to pivotally operate the carriers of said second group successively to said second position and alternately with the individual carriers of said first group in timed sequence to dispose the secondmentioned articles on respective ones of the rst-mentioned articles on said conveyor means and respective ones of the third-mentioned articles carried on said second group of carriers in position overlying respective ones of the second-mentioned articles to form said sandwich combination, and means operable automatically to restore each of the carriers automatically to said rst positions subsequent to their operation to their second positions thereby to position them in readiness for receiving said respective articles.

2. ln an assembly apparatus, in combination, driven conveyor means for receiving individual articles of manufacture and in operation transporting them in respective spaced positions along a given path of travel, a first group of pivotally mounted carriers operable individually to a iirst position for receiving and holding individual, respective articles of manufacture and pivotally operable individually to a second position for disposing the second mentioned articles individually overlying respective ones of the first-mentioned articles, a second group of pivotally mounted carriers individually operable to a first position for receiving and holding respective individual articles of manufacture and pivotally operable to a second position for disposing the respective articles of manufacture thereon overlying respective ones of said second-mentioned articles to form a sandwich combination, means cooperative with said conveyor means to move the iirst and second group of carriers along separate paths substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means and in synchronism therewith, andv means spaced from a zone in which said carriers and conveyor means receive said articles of manufacture and spaced therefrom in the direction of travel of said conveyor means operable automatically cyclically in timed relationship with the speed of said conveyor means to automatically angularly rotate and pivotally operate the carriers of said iirst group successively to said second position and including means to pivotally operate the carriers of said second group successively to said second position and alternately with the individual carriers of said first group in timed sequence to dispose the secondmentioned articles on respective ones of the first-mentioned articles on said conveyor means and respective ones of the third-mentioned articles carried on Said second group of carriers in position overlying respective ones of the second-mentioned articles to form said sandwich combination, means to automatically clean said carriers alternately while the conveyor means is stopped or driven, and means operable automatically to restore each of the carriers automatically to said iirst positions 9 subsequent to their operation to their second positions thereby to position them in readiness for receiving said respective articles.

3. Assembly apparatus according to claim 2, in which said means to clean said carriers comprises a cleaning bath through which said carriers are transported, and in which said means to restore the carriers to their first positions are disposed to carry out restoration subsequent to the carriers passing through said bath.

4. ln a food assembly apparatus, in combination, driven conveyor means for receiving individual pieces of an article of food and in operation transporting them in spaced positions along a given path of travel, a first group of pivotally mounted carriers each operable to a first position for receiving and holding individual, respective portions of food filling and pivotally operable individually to a second position for disposing the food tilling portions overlying respective ones of the first-mentioned pieces, a second group of pivotally mounted carriers each operable to a first position for receiving and holding respective individual pieces of an article of food and pivotally operable to a second position for disposing the respective pieces of food thereon overlying respective ones of said food filling portions to form a sandwich combination, means to move the first and second group of carriers along paths substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means and in synchronism therewith, and means cooperative with said conveyor means spaced from a zone in which said carriers and conveyor means receive said pieces of food and food filling portions and spaced therefrom in the direction of travel of said conveyor means operable automatically, cyclically to angularly rotate and pivotally operate the carriers of said first group successively to said second position and including means to pivotally operate the carriers of said second group successively to said second position and alternately with the individual carriers of said first group in timed sequence to dispose the food filling portions on respective ones of the first-mentioned slices on said conveyor means and respective ones of the second-mentioned pieces carried on said second group of carriers in position overlying respective food filling portions to form said sandwich combination, and means operable automatically to restore each of the carriers automatically to said first positions Subsequent to their operation to their second positions thereby to position them in readiness for receiving said respective articles.

5. In a food assembly apparatus, in combination, driven conveyor means for receiving individual pieces of an article of food and transporting them in spaced positions along a given path of travel, a rst group of pivotally mounted carriers each operable to a first position for receiving and holding individual, respective portions of food filling and pivotally operable individually to a second position for disposing the food filling portions overlying respective ones of the first-mentioned pieces, a second group of pivotally mounted carriers each operable to a first position for receiving and holding respective individual pieces of an article of food and pivotally operable to a second position for disposing the respective pieces of food thereon overlying respective ones of said filling portions to form a sandwich combination, means to move the first and second group of carriers along paths substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means and in synchronism therewith, and means cooperative with said conveyor means spaced from a zone in which said carriers and conveyor means receive said piece of food and food filling portions and spaced therefrom in the direction of travel of said conveyor means operable automatically, cyclically to angularly rotate and pivotally operate the carriers of said first group successively to said second position and including means to pivotally operate the carriers of said second group successively to said second position and alternately with the individual carriers of said first group in timed sequence to dispose the foodY filling portions on respective ones of the first-mentioned slices on said conveyor means and respective ones of the second-mentioned pieces carried on said second group of carriers in position overlying respective food filling portions to form said sandwich combination, and said means to pivotally rotate and operate the carriers automatically including means operable automatically to restore each of the carriers automatically to said first positions subsequent to their operation to their second positions thereby to position them in readiness for receiving said respective articles.

6. In a food assembly apparatus according to claim 5, including means to cook said food portions during the travel of said driven conveyor means and prior to formation of said sandwich combination.

7. In a food assembly apparatus, in combination, driven means for receiving individual slices of bread and in operation transporting them in spaced positions along a given path of travel, a first group of pivotally mounted carriers operable individually to a first position for receiving and holding individual, respective portions of food filling and pivotally operably individually to a second position for inverting and disposing the lling portions overlying respective ones of the first-mentioned bread slices, a second group of pivotally mounted carriers individually operable to a first position for receiving and holding respective individual slices of bread and pivotally operable to a second position for inverting and disposing the respective slices of bread carried thereon overlying respective ones of said filling portions to form a sandwich formation, means to move the first and second group of food carriers along paths substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means and in synchronism therewith, and up-ending means spaced from a zone in which said carriers and driven means receive said bread slices and filling portions and spaced therefrom in the direction of travel of said driven means to automatically angularly rotate and pivotally operate the carriers of said first group successively and to pivotally operate the carriers of said second group successively alternately with the carriers of said first group in timed sequence to dispose the food filling portions on respective ones of the rst-mentioned bread slices on the first-mentioned means and respective ones of the second-mentoned bread slices carried on said second group of carriers in position overlying respective food filling portions to form said sandwich combination.

8. In a food assembly apparatus, in combination, driven conveyor means for receiving individual slices of bread and in operation transporting them in spaced positions along a given path of travel, a first group of pivotally mounted carriers operable individually to a first position for receiving and holding individual, respective portions of food filling and pivotally operable individually to an operative position for inverting and disposing the filling portions overlying respective ones of the first-mentioned bread slices, a second group of pivotally mounted carriers individually operable to a position for receiving and holding respective individual slices of bread and pivotally operable to an operative position for inverting and disposing the respective slices of bread overlying respective ones of said filling portions to form a sandwich combination, means to move the first and second group of carriers along separate paths substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means and in synchronism therewith, and means operable automatically in timed relationship with the speed of travel of said conveyor means to automatically angularly rotate and pivotally operate the carriers of said first group successively and including means to pivotally operate the carriers of said second group successively and alternately with the carriers of said first group in timed sequence to dispose the food filling portions on respective ones of the mst-mentioned bread slices on said conveyor means and respective ones of the second-mentioned bread slices overlying respecacfas/i4 tive food filling portions to form said sandwich combination, means disposed to at least heat a preselected side of eachV of said bread slices during travel of said conveyor means and respective carriers prior to formation and assembly of said sandwich combination, means disposed adiacent the path of travel of said firstgroup of carriers to cook said filling portions during travel of said conveyor means and said second group of carriers, and means to variably change the speed of travel of said conveyor means along said given path.

9. In a food assembly apparatus, in combination, driven conveyor means for receiving individual slices of bread and in operation transporting them in respective spaced positions, along a given path of travel, a first group of pivotally mounted carriers operable individually to a position for receiving and holding individual, respective portions of food filling and pivotally operable individually to an operative position for inverting and disposing the lling portions overlying respective ones of the first-mentioned bread slices, a second group of pivotally mounted carriers individually operable to a position for receiving and holding respective individual slices of bread and pivotally operable to an operative position for Iinverting and disposing the respective slices of bread overlying respective ones of said filling portions to form a sandwich combination, means to move the first and second group of carriers along separate paths substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means and in synchronism therewith, and means operable automatically to automatically angularly rotate and pivotally operate the carriers of said first group successively and including means to pivotally operate the carriers of said second group successively and alternately with the carriers of said first group in timed sequence to dispose the food filling portions on respective ones or" the first-mentioned bread slices on said conveyor means and respective ones of the second-mentioned bread slices overlying respective food filling portions to form said sandwich combination, means disposed to at least heat a preselected side of each of said bread slices during travel of said conveyor meansV and respective carriers prior to formation and assembly of said sandwich combination, and means disposed adjacent the path of travel of said first group of carriers to cook said fiil'ing portions during travel of said conveyor means and said second group or" carriers.

10. In a food assembly apparatus, in combination, driven conveyor means for receiving individualslices of; bread and in operation transporting them in spaced positions along a given path of travel, a first group of pivotally mounted carriers operable individually to a position for receiving and holding individual, respective portions of food'fil-ling and pivotally operable individually to anoperative position for inverting and disposing the filling portions overlying respective ones of the first-mentioned Abread slices, a second group of pivotally mounted carriers individually operable to a position for receiving and holding respective individual slices of bread and pivotally operable to an operative position for inverting and disposing the respective slices' of bread overlying respective ones of said filling portions to form a sandwich combination, means to move the first and second group of carriers along separate paths substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means and in -synchronism therewith, and means operable automatically in timed relationship with the speed of travel of said conveyor means to automatically angularly rotate and pivotally operate the carriers of saidV first group successively and including means to pivotally operate the carriers of said second group `successively and alternately with the carriers of said first group in timed sequence to dispose the food filling portions on ,respective ones of the first-mentioned bread selected side of each of said bread slices during travel of said conveyor means and respective carriers prior t0 formation and assembly of said sandwich combination, and other gas operated burner means disposed adjacent the path of travel of said first group of carriers to cook said filling portions during travel of said conveyor means and said second group of carriers.

ll. ln a food assembly apparatus, in combination,A driven conveyor means for receiving individual slices of bread and in operation transporting them in spaced positions along a given path of travel, a first group of pivotally mounted carriers operable individually to a position for receiving and holding individual, respective portions of food filling and pivotally operable individually to an operative position for inverting and disposing the filling portions overlying respective ones of the first-mentioned bread slices, a second group of pivotally mounted carriers individually operable to a position for receiving and holding respective individual slices of bread and pivotally operable to an operative position for inverting and disposing the respective slices of bread overlying respective` ones of said filling portions to form a sandwich cornbination, means to move the rst and second group of carriers along separate paths substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means and in synchronism therewith, and means operable automatically in timed relationship with the speed of travel of said conveyor means to automatically angular-ly rotate and pivotally operate the carriers of said first group successively and including means to pivotally operate the carriers of said second group successively and alternateiy with the car-V riers of said firstY group in timed sequence to dispose the food lling portions on respective ones of the first-mentioned bread slices on said conveyor means and respective ones of the second-mentioned bread slices overlying respective food filling portions to form said sandwich combination, electrically energized means disposed to at least heat a preselected side of each of said bread slices during travel of said conveyor means and respective carriers prior to formation and assembly of said sandwich combination, and other electrically energized means disposed adjacent the path of travel of said first group of carriers to cook said filling portions during travel ofsaid conveyor means and said second group of carriers.

l2. In aV food assembly apparatus, in combination, driven means for receiving individual halves of slit rolls of bread and in operation transporting them in spaced positions along a given path of travel, a first group of pivotally mounted grills operable individually to a first position for receiving and holding individual', respective preformed portions of meat and pivotally operable individually to a second position for inverting and disposing the meat portions overlying respective ones of the first-mentioned roll halves, a second group of pivotally mounted grills individually operable to a first position for receiving and holding respective individual halves of slit rolls of bread `and pivotally operable to a second position for inverting andl disposing the respective secondmentioned bread roll halves carried thereon overlying respective ones of said meat portions to form `a sandwich formation, means to move the first andv second group of grills along paths substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor means and in synchronism therewith, and means operable automatically, cyclically in timed relationship with the speed of travel of said driven means spaced from a zone in which said grills and driven means receive said roll halves and meat portions and spaced therefrom in the direction of travel of said driven means to automatically angularly rotate and'pivotally operate the grills of said first group successively and including means tolpivota'lly operate the grills of said second group successively alternately with the grills of said first group in timed sequence to dispose the meat portions on respective ones of the first-mentioned. roll halves on the first-mentioned means and respective ones of the second-mentioned roll halves carried on said second group of grills in position overlying respective meat portions to form said sandwich combination.

13. In a food assembly apparatus according to claim 12, means adjustably and removably mounted in the apparatus in position to at least heat a preselected side surface of each of said roll halves before assembly in said sandwich combination and during travel of said driven means and grills.

14. In a food assembly apparatus according to claim 13, including other means adjustably and removably mounted in said apparatus adjacent the path of travei of said irst group of grills to cook said meat portions before assembly in said sandwich combination and during 14 travel of said driven means and said first and second groups of grills.

15. in a food assembly apparatus according to claim 14, in which said apparatus includes means through which said grills travel for cleaning them.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

